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Re: Are you ready for some football!!!!

My way too early predictions for each battle.

Back up QB- Tyrod Taylor
I think the Ravens will want to keep Taylor and continue with his development. Whether they keep a 3rd QB on the roster is in up in the air. Personally I think Painter would be a waste of roster space, and would rather see them use one of their UDRFA QB's on the practice squad like John Brantley out of Florida.

Back up RB- Bernard Pierce
All the talk about Anthony Allen and Damien Berry is great news, however neither showed the talent at college that Pierce shown. Pierce is actually someone I could see having the potential being a starting RB one day in the league, and being a pretty damn good one too. I was a huge fan of his at Temple, and had a feeling the Ravens where going to draft him. Another year on the PS for Berry I think, and I expect Anthony Allen to get a lot more work this season even if he does finish the roster as the #3 back.

Starting TE- Dennis Pitta
This one is secretly probably the hardest one to judge right now. Either way both are going to get almost the same amount of snaps, but I see Pitta going in with the egde because of his late season play in 2011. He has a chemistry with Flacco right now, and arguably has the best hands on the roster.

#3 Receiver- Jacoby Jones
Would love to see a Tandon Doss or LaQuan Williams winning the #3 spot, however with Harbaughs past record of playing experienced heads over young players, I am going with the guess that he goes with Jacoby Jones. Jacoby Jones is certainly not getting paid like a pure return specialist/#4 or 5 receiver either.

Starting LG- Bobbie Williams
Pretty much the same as above, Harbaugh will go with the experienced player, and it makes it even more likely that it's the offensive line we're talking about. KO is dealing with an injury we don't know much about, and I can't realistically see Jah Reid playing guard.

DE- Pernell McPhee
This was another tough one. Arthur Jones at this point seems like a more refined and talented run stuffer, where as McPhee looks to be a great pass rushing specialist. However I think McPhee can make a good run defender too, as that is what a lot of people thought of him coming out of college. Either way, much like the TE position, I see both getting similar amounts of snaps per game.

Rush LB (Suggs position)- Courtney Upshaw
There has been talk about Upshaw playing Suggs' position, and not Kruger. Instead Kruger has reportedly been saying that he is likely to play the Sam LB position. This is all just here say right now, but I will go with what Upshaw played in college.

Sam LB- Paul Kruger
See above. Even though I think Sergio is going to play well this year and surprise a few, he doesn't have enough time to go into the season as a starting LB on this team. Kruger showed glimpses of his talent last year.

#2 Corner- Jimmy Smith
Cary Williams played surprisingly better than people thought he would last season, but that wont be enough to keep out a horrendously talented athlete that Jimmy Smith is. Jimmy had a solid rookie season as a nickel corner, with one bad game as a starter against the Chargers, but he made some good plays. I think Jimmy will go in as a starter in 2012 and have that break out season that many are expecting him to have.

Nickel Corner- Cary Williams
Cary Williams showed that he can be a solid player in this league, and he will help this potentially elite secondary get even better than it was last season.

Kick/punt returner- Jacoby Jones
I doubt that anyone beats him out for this position, he is a pretty talented punt returner, and they will want to keep Webb away from this, it's a risky position. Jacoby Jones is at this point much more expendable than Webb too.

Kicker- Billy Cundiff
Can kickers go on the PS? If so, I see the Ravens wanting to keep Tucker on the and develop him. Cundiff is probably on a last chance season.

Re: Are you ready for some football!!!!

For the first time in at least a few seasons, the Ravens have several Real Battles to watch for starters/significant role positions as opposed to just depth players going at it. Don't know if that is a good sign or a bad sign, but will make Training Camp that much more interesting this time around.

Personally, the two most compelling battles will be for LG--personally hoping the signing of Williams lights a fire under the young bucks and they step up; and Jimmy Smith v Cary Williams w/ Gorrer v. Brown as a subplot. Our CB's are going to be scary good this year.